Growing up healthy

By DR TEE E SIONG

Good nutrition and eating habits provide the key to optimum growth for your child.

A LARGE-scale nationwide study conducted in 2006 of infants and children up to 18 years of age has provided detailed information on their nutritional status.

A significant proportion of Malaysian children were found to be underweight; there was stunting on one hand and obesity on the other.

Although the extent of the problem is not alarming, it deserves serious attention, with particular focus on children in the formative years.

Underweight is a measure of unsatisfactory weight achievement for a specific age. The condition results from current or short-term insufficient nutrient intake.

The study found that 13.2% of the children under study were underweight.

There were more rural children who were underweight (16%) compared with urban children (11.4%). The youngest age group (1-3 years) had the highest percentage of underweight children (19.8%). This was followed by children in the 4-6 years age group (16.4%).

Stunting results from long-term lack of appropriate nutrients. Stunted children are too short for their specific age.

In this nationwide study, stunting was found in 15.8% of the children under study. Again, there were more rural children who were stunted (19.4%) compared with urban children (13.6%).

Children in the 1-3 years age group were found to have the second highest percentage of stunting (17.2%), whereas those in the 4-6 years age group had the third highest (16.7%).

Malaysian children were also found to be obese although to a lesser extent compared to being underweight or stunted.

Among the children studied, 5.4% were found to be overweight. As expected, there were more children in urban areas (6.3%) who were overweight compared with those in the rural areas (4.0%).

The youngest age group (1-3 years) had the lowest percentage of overweight children (3.2%). Children between the ages of 4-6 years made up the second most overweight group (6.4%).

Serious consequences

Both under- and over-nutrition can have serious consequences on growth and development. This involves main nutrients that provide energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat as well as vitamins and minerals.

When kids are underweight, overweight or even of normal weight, they may still be deficient in micronutrients such as iron, calcium and iodine.

Under-nutrition

Poor feeding practices can lead to children becoming underweight or stunted. Very often, these children are also deficient in various vitamins and minerals, the most common being iron, iodine and vitamin A.

Undernourished children fall sick more often as they have poor resistance to infections.

Nutrient deficiencies can also affect cognitive development.

Over-nutrition

Over-nutrition arises when children consume too much food, especially calorie-dense foods and do not exercise enough. This leads to them becoming overweight.

An overweight child may continue to be an overweight teenager and adult.

Obesity is a risk factor for various chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

Being overweight or obese may also give children poor body image and low self-esteem.

Excessive nutrients

An intake of excessive nutrients is also harmful. This happens when children over-consume micronutrients, for example, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).

Over-consumption may occur if children are given micronutrient supplements without proper professional advice.

Such vitamins can accumulate in fatty tissues, resulting in toxic side effects.

Healthy path

To keep your children strong and healthy, you need to provide good nutrition and inculcate healthy eating habits in the formative years. It is imporant that you make the right food choices. Do take note of the following principles of good nutrition:

·Variety. Feed your children foods from every group in the Food Guide Pyramid daily. This allows them to savour different foods and obtain essential nutrients to develop optimally.

·Balance. Give your children a balanced mix of carbohydrates (eg rice, noodles and bread), fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods (eg fish and poultry) and milk and dairy products.

·Minimise salts, fats and sugar in their diet.

·Moderation. Too little or too much nutrition can result in health problems, so teach your children to eat moderately from an early age. As they grow, their food consumption will increase.

·Ensure they eat regular meals and do not overeat.

Your children have a fundamental right to receive the correct nutrition required for growing, developing and staying healthy. So commit yourself to this labour of love and watch them grow up healthy.


Article courtesy of Nutrition Month Malaysia (NMM), the annual nutrition promotion campaign jointly organised by the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association and the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity.

NMM ’09 is supported by Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, and co-sponsors Cotra Enterprise Sdn Bhd (Vitagen), Gardenia Bakeries, Kraft Malaysia (Tiger), PepsiCo Malaysia, Wyeth Malaysia and Yakult Malaysia.

For more information, contact the secretariat ( 03-5637 3526).

LEARN more about bringing up healthy children through the educational materials and activities of Nutrition Month Malaysia 2009 at .